Beginner Website Terminology: 23 Must-Know Terms
Creating a website can feel overwhelming, especially when you're bombarded with technical jargon that you’re trying to wrap your brain around.
It’s like trying to speak a new language without any prior knowledge of the basic fundamentals.
Understanding these fundamental terms is important for anyone’s online presence. This guide is designed to break down the essential terminology every beginner should know.
Why Understanding Website Terminology is Important
Understanding website terminology allows you to make informed decisions about your site.
For instance:
Knowing the difference between a domain name and hosting can help you purchase the right services.
Understanding the basics of SEO can lead to better search engine rankings and increased traffic.
Familiarity with terms like CMS, plugins, and themes empowers you to customize your site more effectively and troubleshoot common issues.
Whether you're building a site yourself or working with professionals, this knowledge is invaluable. It bridges the gap between your ideas and the technical implementation, ensuring that your website meets your needs and expectations.
In the long run, this understanding can lead to a more successful and sustainable online presence, as you will be better equipped to adapt and grow with the ever evolving digital landscape.
Who Should Follow This Guide?
This guide is perfect for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone new to web design and development. If you've ever felt lost in conversations about your website, this post is for you!
Small Business Owners
You probably often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, making it essential to have a clear understanding of website terminology. This knowledge enables you to manage your online presence more effectively, whether you're overseeing a redesign, updating content, or troubleshooting issues. It also helps you make better decisions when hiring web professionals, ensuring you get the best value for your investment.
Entrepreneurs
Launching new ventures can benefit greatly from this guide. A solid grasp of website terminology can streamline the process of building your online presence, allowing you to focus on growing your business. Whether you're setting up an e-commerce store, creating a portfolio site, or starting a blog, understanding the basics will help you navigate the technical aspects with confidence.
New to Web Design?
For those new to web design and development, this guide provides a valuable foundation. It breaks down complex concepts into easily digestible terms, making it accessible to beginners. By the end of this guide, you'll have a solid understanding of the essential terminology, allowing you to dive deeper into the world of web design and development with confidence.
By catering to a diverse audience, this guide aims to demystify website terminology and allow you to take control of your online presence, regardless of your level of experience or expertise.
Currently planning your squarespace website? Grab the free guide on how to plan and launch your website effortlessly with tips and tricks to guide you up to launch day!
Basic Website Terminology
Here are my top 23 basic website terms that you should know before you start designing your own website or that you should just know in general to understand the ins and outs of a website. Let’s start with the basic fundamentals:
Fundamental Website Terminology
Domain Name
Your domain name is your website's address on the internet. It's what users type into their browser to find your site, like www.jamiestott.com. Choosing a memorable and relevant domain name is critical for your branding and online presence.
What makes a good domain name?
A good domain name should be short, easy to remember, easy to spell, and relevant to your business or brand. Avoid using numbers and hyphens as they can be confusing.
URL
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the full web address used to locate a specific page or resource on your site. It includes the domain name and additional path or parameters, such as www.jamiestott.com/blog.
How do URLs impact SEO?
URLs impact SEO by helping search engines understand the content of your page. Clear and descriptive URLs that include relevant keywords can improve your page's search engine ranking.
URL Slug
A URL Slug is the additional path that is added to the domain name.
So the URL slug for www.jamiestott.com/blog is /blog
How should I format URL slugs?
URL slugs should be short, descriptive, and use hyphens to separate words. Avoid using special characters and ensure they are easy to read.
Hosting
Web hosting is the service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible on the internet. Hosting providers offer different plans, typically based on storage space, bandwidth, and additional features.
Squarespace hosts your website (a.k.a. makes your website available to users on the internet!) once you pay for a Squarespace subscription plan.
Website Builder
Website builders are tools that allow you to create websites without needing to code. They provide templates and drag-and-drop interfaces, making it easy for beginners to design professional-looking sites. Popular options include Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.
Are website builders good for SEO?
Many website builders offer SEO-friendly features, such as customizable meta tags, responsive design, and easy integration with Google Analytics. However, the effectiveness depends on how well these tools are used.
Web Design & Development Terms
HTML
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language for creating web pages. It structures your content and tells the browser how to display it.
Is HTML difficult to learn?
HTML is considered one of the easier programming languages to learn. With practice, most people can grasp the basics relatively quickly.
Note: If you are using a website builder, you traditionally don’t need to know how to custom code using HTML or any other programming language.
CSS
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to style and layout web pages. It controls the design elements like colors, fonts, and spacing.
Can I use CSS with any website builder?
Most website builders allow for custom CSS to be added. This lets you further customize the appearance of your website beyond the provided templates.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language that enables interactive features on websites, such as sliders, pop-up windows, and form validations.
Most website builders have built-in features that use JavaScript, so it’s not something you need to know how to code.
Responsive Design
Responsive design ensures your website looks good and functions well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. It's crucial for providing a good user experience and improving your site's SEO.
How can I test my website's responsiveness?
You can test your website's responsiveness using tools like Google Page Speed Insights, browser developer tools, or responsive design testing websites.
User Interface (UI)
UI refers to the visual elements that users interact with on your website, such as buttons, forms, and menus. Good UI design is essential for ease of use and overall user satisfaction.
What are the key principles of UI design?
Key principles of UI design include consistency, simplicity, feedback, and accessibility. A good UI should be intuitive and provide a seamless user experience.
User Experience (UX)
UX encompasses all aspects of a user's interaction with your website. It includes usability, accessibility, and the overall feel of the site. A positive UX leads to higher user engagement and satisfaction.
How do I improve my website's UX?
Improving your website's UX involves understanding your users' needs, simplifying navigation, ensuring fast load times, and making your site accessible to all users.
Content Management Terms
CMS (Content Management System)
A CMS is software that helps you create, manage, and modify content on your website without needing specialized technical knowledge. Popular CMS platforms include Squarespace, WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Joomla, and Drupal. You might also hear the term ‘Website Builder’ which is the same thing.
What are the benefits of using a CMS?
The benefits of using a CMS include ease of content management, scalability, SEO-friendly features, and a wide range of plugins and themes for customization.
Plugins
Plugins are software add-ons that enhance the functionality of your CMS. They can add new features, improve performance, and customize your site. Plugins are pretty popular with CMS like WordPress.
How do I choose the right plugins for my website?
Choose plugins based on their reviews, ratings, compatibility with your CMS, and the specific needs of your website. Avoid using too many plugins, as they can slow down your site.
Themes
Themes control the appearance of your website. They determine the layout, color scheme, and overall design. Many CMS platforms offer a wide range of free and premium themes to choose from.
Can I customize a theme for my website?
Yes, most themes allow for customization to match your branding and design preferences. You can modify colors, fonts, layouts, and other design elements.
Pssst… Check out the Squarespace Template Shop for pre-designed themed websites. They are the perfect affordable plug-and-play option for entrepreneurs and small businesses - just add your own content and images then get ready to quickly launch your website!
SEO & Marketing Terms
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. It involves techniques like keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.
How long does it take to see results from SEO?
SEO is a long-term strategy, and it can take several months to see significant results. Consistency and ongoing optimization are key to improving your search engine rankings.
Suggested Reading Link: 5 SEO Tips to Optimize Your Squarespace Website
Keywords
Keywords are the terms and phrases people use when searching for information online. Incorporating relevant keywords into your content helps search engines understand your site's topic and improves your SEO.
Meta Tags
Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page's content. They don't appear on the page itself but in the page's code. Important meta tags include the title tag and meta description, which influence how your page appears in search engine results.
Do meta tags still matter for SEO?
Yes, meta tags are still important for SEO. They help search engines understand the content of your pages and influence click-through rates from search engine results pages.
Alt Text
Alt text is used to describe images on your website. It's important for accessibility, helping visually impaired users understand your content, and it also plays a role in SEO.
How do I write effective alt text?
Effective alt text should be descriptive and concise, accurately conveying the content and purpose of the image. Avoid keyword stuffing and keep it relevant to the image.
Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to your site. They are crucial for SEO because they signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy.
How can I get more backlinks to my website?
You can get more backlinks by creating high-quality content, reaching out to other websites for guest posting opportunities, and promoting your content through social media and email marketing.
SSL Certificate
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts data transmitted between your website and its users. It is essential for securing sensitive information, such as credit card details, and is also a ranking factor for SEO. This is the little lock icon you typically see in the web address bar of your browser.
You can also tell if a website has an SSL certificate if the URL starts with "https" instead of "http". The 's' stands for "secure," indicating that the connection is encrypted and safe.
Website Analytics Terms
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can indicate issues with your site's content, design, or user experience.
What is a good bounce rate?
A good bounce rate varies by industry, but generally, a bounce rate below 40% is considered excellent, while 40-60% is average. A rate above 70% may indicate that there are issues that need addressing.
Conversion Rate
Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action on your site, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. Improving your conversion rate is crucial for achieving your business goals.
How can I improve my website's conversion rate?
You can improve your conversion rate by optimizing your call-to-action buttons, simplifying your forms, providing clear value propositions, and ensuring a smooth user experience.
Traffic Sources
Traffic sources indicate where your website visitors come from. Common sources include search engines, social media, direct visits, and referrals from other websites. Understanding your traffic sources helps you optimize your marketing efforts.
Why is it important to analyze traffic sources?
Analyzing traffic sources helps you understand which channels are most effective
Next Steps for Beginners
We've covered a lot of ground in this guide, from basic website structure to SEO and marketing terminology and now you understand the importance of these terms.
The more you know, the more confident you'll be to create a successful online presence!
If learning web design seems a bit too much to learn at this point in time though, don’t worry - I’ve got you covered! See below:
Check out these helpful solutions for you:
Squarespace Template Shop: Pre-built websites that are plug-and-play
Custom Web Design: Personalized and custom designed Squarespace websites
Web Wellness: One hour of personalized Squarespace support from myself
Currently planning your squarespace website? Grab the free guide on how to plan and launch your website effortlessly with tips and tricks to guide you up to launch day!